- Jan 13, 2001
- 15,929
- 6,982
- AFL Club
- Brisbane Lions
- Other Teams
- Man City
Is it just me or do more people who still actively follow the AFL long for the old days of a physical contest and personalities in the game?
On Friday night I was talking to people who still go to the football and even buy club memberships are getting tired of the game. The removal of anything that comes close to being deemed a hard phyiscal contest is now either outlawed or frowned upon by the authorities, things that were previously taboo are now accepted with a slap on the wrist and anyone with a personality must go to conselling and calm down.
When Wayne Carey received one week for a misguided cheap shot that would not have left a mark on his opponent the other week against Adelaide was laughable. Ten years ago if he had thrown a punch like that he wold have been laughed at, he also could have thrown it a lot hard and made reasonable contact and nothing would have come of it but not now. Physical contact with you opponent is not welcome in the AFL.
Luke Darcy of Footscray (I refuse to call them the Western Bulldogs) received one week for running into the back of an umpire, it wasn't that long ago that Greg Williams whilst at Carlton received nine weeks for pushing an umpire in something that was very similar. Williams received his when the umpire approach him from behind to get the ball off him for a ball up. Williams then turned and pushed obviously thinking his personal space was violated and was supsequently suspened for 9. Luke Darcy ran across the ground 20 metres and ran far and square into the umpire who had not moved from his spot and got 1. Darcy must have seen the umpire regardless of what the experts say, to not see the umpire in this situation is like not seeing the light pole that you walk into whilst trying to hail a taxi at 3 a.m. and I doubt he was intoxicated.
With these sorts of tribunal decisions it won't be long before you get suspened for wrestling and get a fine for king hitting an umpire.
In round 7 in Melbourne it finally showed what the AFL was trying to achieve in it directive on rules, a tv spectacle. The discouragement of fans who have been going to games for years with their mates by introducing dictatorial language laws is disgusting. Whatever happened to being able to stand in the outer a cold full strentgh beer in the rain yelling abuse at the players and only have to fear the opposition supporters (especially at some suburban working class grounds). This step in threating to expell supporters who use blue or offensive language from the fround is one step too far.
I now have become disenchanted with attending the football and will farwell it at the remaining traditional grounds Princess Park (a.k.a. Optus Oval) and Kardina Park (a.k.a. Shell Stadium) this season and return to local footy. These are the only Melbourne grounds with stading room left and where I still feel comfortable.
Farwell Wayne Jackson, by trying to make the AFL appealing to all parts the community you have made it attractive as a specticle to none, you've lost another supporter to grass roots footy and encourage others to follow and enjoy the money tthey spend.
On Friday night I was talking to people who still go to the football and even buy club memberships are getting tired of the game. The removal of anything that comes close to being deemed a hard phyiscal contest is now either outlawed or frowned upon by the authorities, things that were previously taboo are now accepted with a slap on the wrist and anyone with a personality must go to conselling and calm down.
When Wayne Carey received one week for a misguided cheap shot that would not have left a mark on his opponent the other week against Adelaide was laughable. Ten years ago if he had thrown a punch like that he wold have been laughed at, he also could have thrown it a lot hard and made reasonable contact and nothing would have come of it but not now. Physical contact with you opponent is not welcome in the AFL.
Luke Darcy of Footscray (I refuse to call them the Western Bulldogs) received one week for running into the back of an umpire, it wasn't that long ago that Greg Williams whilst at Carlton received nine weeks for pushing an umpire in something that was very similar. Williams received his when the umpire approach him from behind to get the ball off him for a ball up. Williams then turned and pushed obviously thinking his personal space was violated and was supsequently suspened for 9. Luke Darcy ran across the ground 20 metres and ran far and square into the umpire who had not moved from his spot and got 1. Darcy must have seen the umpire regardless of what the experts say, to not see the umpire in this situation is like not seeing the light pole that you walk into whilst trying to hail a taxi at 3 a.m. and I doubt he was intoxicated.
With these sorts of tribunal decisions it won't be long before you get suspened for wrestling and get a fine for king hitting an umpire.
In round 7 in Melbourne it finally showed what the AFL was trying to achieve in it directive on rules, a tv spectacle. The discouragement of fans who have been going to games for years with their mates by introducing dictatorial language laws is disgusting. Whatever happened to being able to stand in the outer a cold full strentgh beer in the rain yelling abuse at the players and only have to fear the opposition supporters (especially at some suburban working class grounds). This step in threating to expell supporters who use blue or offensive language from the fround is one step too far.
I now have become disenchanted with attending the football and will farwell it at the remaining traditional grounds Princess Park (a.k.a. Optus Oval) and Kardina Park (a.k.a. Shell Stadium) this season and return to local footy. These are the only Melbourne grounds with stading room left and where I still feel comfortable.
Farwell Wayne Jackson, by trying to make the AFL appealing to all parts the community you have made it attractive as a specticle to none, you've lost another supporter to grass roots footy and encourage others to follow and enjoy the money tthey spend.
